❝The only kind of love I want is one where even if it is just for a short moment, it feels like I have lived a lifetime in that moment with that person. ❞ - Jhanvi Raichand.
**You CANNOT read this as standalone. Read Dare to Be before reading this...
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No matter the age, you can't escape the lecture from your parents. And, there is nothing you can do except for listening as patiently as you can. "If I hear the slightest, I am not going to give a damn about the curfew, Aarav. You, Arshiya, and Jhanvi will stay the hell away from everything. These people are not kidding around. Aarush has training, but this is not your life. Are you even listening to me?"
"Yes, dad." I swear, sometimes he forgets that I am an adult who is a lot more mature than him when he was my age.
He scolds, "Don't patronize me, Aarav!"
I exhale, "I'm not, dad. Ofcourse I'll keep Arshiya away from everything. She would already be back in Mumbai if not for the curfew. But, Jhanvi... how do you expect me to stop her? She's as involved in this as Aarush, you know?"
He mutters to himself, "Why is everyone in my life stubborn headed?"
Taking that as cue, I change the topic. "Are you getting along with Vivek mamu?"
For a second, he doesn't reply. I am sure he would be glaring away at me for bringing this up if I was in front of him. Then, he says in a clipped tone. "I'm playing nice."
I am sure Khushi must have given him a few good threats if he picked a fight with him. That's the only reason he would behave.
"Any word about him?" I ask about Shyam.
I don't have to say his name for dad to know who I am asking about. "No," he informs. "He's laying low... which worries me."
I admit, honestly. "Me too."
There is relief that he isn't acting up right now because it would be the worst possible timing, but the longer he remains dormant, the more I get worried. He is known to play the long game, and that whatever he is planning, terrifies me. Hell, he's had decades to plan and he's not impulsive. He'll plan every second of his revenge and I am worried that we won't see it coming. I'm worried that no matter how much we try, we'll always remain a step after him and that as a result, people I care about will be hurt.
Dad says as if to assure both of us, "We'll get him again, buddy. It's only a matter of time."
"Yeah," I half-heartedly reply before asking about everyone else and a light conversation about business projects. Even when I was there the past months, my head hadn't been in the game because of the distance between Annie and me. Now that things were good on that front, I was still away to help Jhanvi end this chapter in her life once and form all.
